Prosthesis holder

ABSTRACT

A prosthetic holder is disclosed having prosthetic-grasping jaws located distally, a jaw hinge located centrally, and a jaw locking mechanism located proximally. The locking mechanism can be operated from either side of the holder, and includes studs fixed to each jaw. The studs can be brought into arcuate superimposition, and the jaws into a corresponding prosthesis grasping position, by a locknut carried on one stud. Removable liners are provided for engaging various shaped prostheses.

United States Patent 1191 Amstutz 1111 3,857,389 1451' Dec. 31, 1974 1 1PROSTHESIS HOLDER [76] Inventor: Harlan C. Amstutz, 433 Burlingame Ave.,Los Angeles, Calif. 90049 [22] Filed: June 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:367,694

52 us. c1. 128/92 EC, 3/1, 81/111,

269/90, 403/102 [51] Int. Cl. A611 5/04 [58] Field of Search 128/92 EC,92 EA, 92 C,

128/92 CA, 92 R, 83, 346, 303; 81/111; 269/90, 203, 205; 294/106, 116;403/52, 86, 91,100,102, 316, 317; 3/1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,237,826 8/1917 Satterquistet a1 269/90 X 1,256,208 2/1918 Cummins 128/346 2,291,413 7/1942Siebrandt 128/92 EA X 2,583,896 1/1952 Siebrandt 128/92 EA X 10/1953Herbert 269/90 11/1963 Rodbard ..128/346 Primary Examiner-Richard A.Gaudet Assistant Examiner.l. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David J.Mugford; Richard H. Brink; George A. Mentis 157 ABSTRACT A prostheticholder is disclosed having prostheticgrasping jaws located distally, ajaw hinge located centrally, and a jaw locking mechanism locatedproximally. The locking mechanism can be operated from either side ofthe holder, and includes studs fixed to each jaw. The studs can bebrought into arcuate superimposition, and the jaws into a correspondingprosthesis grasping position, by a locknut carried on one stud.Removable liners are provided for engaging various shaped prostheses.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEB31 1w 3.857. 389

sum 1 or 2 FIG.|

I PATENTED I914 3.857. 389 sumanr 2 FIG.5

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally tosurgical instruments and more particularly concerns devices for holdinga prosthesis.

In surgery involving the installation or other manipulation of aprosthesis, devices for holding the prosthetic member have long beenused as valuable operating aids. Such devices must firmly grasp theprosthesis, and must present it for easy installation into the patient.

A number of prosthesis holders have previously been offered to meetthese general objectives. The Charnley device provides a pair ofrelatively centrally located prosthesis-holding jaws connected at arelatively distal hinge. Handles and locking devices having a protrudingmechanism are located proximal to the prosthesis. This device offersconsiderable clamping force, but removal of the instrument afterinstallation of the prosthesis is sometimes difficult, since the jawsmust be opened a relatively large distance to free it from the emplacedprosthesis. Further, the direction in which the holder must be removedfrom the prosthesis often makes removal difficult, since the device mustbe maneuvered upward over the prosthesis.

The Bechtol device grasps the prosthesis relatively distally andprovides a locking device and handles located relatively centrally, anda jaw hinge located relatively pr'oximally. While the holder may be moreeasily removed from the emplaced prosthesis, less grasping or clampingforce is provided. 7

Both devices provide a locking mechanism actuating knob located ateither a right or a left side of the instrument. While this knoblocation may be convenient for operations performed upon one side of thepatient, the knob is almost inevitably obstructed when operation is tobe performed upon the opposite side of the anatomy.

It is therefore the general object of the present invention to provide aprosthesis holder which firmly grasps a prosthesis, yet which can beeasily and quickly removed from the emplaced prosthesis with a minimumof motion and effort. by the surgeon.

It is a more specific object to provide a prosthesis holder whereinprosthesis gripping force is not sacrificed for ease of holder removal.

Another object is to provide a prosthesis holder wherein the lockingdevice actuator does not become obstructed by reason of its location onthe holder. A related object is to provide a holder having a jaw lockingdevice which can be operated with either hand and with equal facility bythe using surgeon. An associated object is to provide a holder having alocking device which is operable with a simple rotative motion of thethumb and forefinger.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a prosthesis holderhaving interchangeable prosthesisgripping jaw liners which can beremoved and reattached quickly, easily, and without the use of tools.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a prosthesisholder which serves to protect the finely finished articulating surfaceof the prosthesis head.

It is a further object to provide a prosthesis holder having a lockingdevice which urges the jaws into their prosthesis-gripping position withrelatively great force. An associated object is to provide a lockingdevice which permits the jaws to be conveniently opened through a wideangle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings.

holder showing a typical prosthesis in phantom outline;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the prosthesis holder in partiallongitudinal section showing in detail the arrangement of gripping jaws,jaw liners, jaw locking devices and jaw hinge;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 33in FIG.2 and showing in-further detail the prosthesis holder jaws, jawliners, locking device and hinge;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 44in FIG. 2 and showing in yet further detail the gripping jaws and jawhinge;

FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view of a portion of the holder showing thejaws in an open position and the jaw liners removed therefrom;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plan of line 6-6in FIG. 3 and showing in further detail the attachment of the jaw linersto the jaws;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plan of line 6--6in FIG. 3 showing a modified form of- DESCRIPTION,

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit theinvention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to coverall alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be includedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

Turning first to FIG. 1 and'2, there is shown prosthesis holder 10grasping a prosthesis 11. Speaking generally, the holder 10 includes apair of jaws 12 and 13 inter-connected for relative angular motion by ahinge pin 14, to grasp the prosthesis 11 in a pinching or plierlikemanner. The jaws 12 and 13 may be locked in their prosthesis-graspingposition by a novel jaw locking mechanism 15. The holder is convenientlygrasped and manipulated by means of a handle 16 which may be surfaced inany convenient manner, as by knurls 17.

As previously indicated, it is important that a prosthesis holder graspthe prosthesis ll firmly, yet be easily and quickly removable from theinstalled prosthesis with a minimum of jaw motion. In accordance withone aspect of the invention, therefore, jaws l2 and 13 are hinged forrelative angular motion about the hinged pin 14 at a point locatedbetween the jaws and the locking means.

As also indicated, utility of a prosthesis holder is enhanced if theholder jaw locking device can be easily and quickly operated from eitherside of the device by either hand. In accordance with this aspect of theinvention, therefore, the locking device 15 includes a short lockingstud 20 mounted on or formed integral with one jaw 13, and a longlocking stud 21 mounted on or formed integral with the opposite graspingjaw 12. It will be noted that the studs 20 and 21, thus arranged,undergo the same angular motion as the jaws l2 and 13 when the jaws l2and 13 are opened or closed.

The long locking stud 21 is provided with a threaded extension 23 whichis secured to the handle 16 in the illustrated device. Also carried uponthe threaded extension 23 is a locking member 25 or nut, which can bequickly and easily moved along the axis of the long locking stud 21 forengagement with the short locking stud 20. Here, this axial motion isproduced simply by rotating the locking nut 25, since the nut isinternally threaded for engagement with the threaded extension 23.Progressive motion of the lock nut 25 toward the jaws causes an internalconical surface 26 to engage a terminal portion 27 of the short lockingstud 20 and to urge the short stud 20 into a progressively more exactangular superimposition over the long locking stud 21 in the positionillustrated in FIG. 3. This stud motion toward the describedsuperimposed position correspondingly urges the jaws 12 and 13 intotheir prosthesis-gripping positions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lock nut 25 also engages a terminalportion 28 of the long locking stud shank 29. Those skilled in the artwill understand that, by decreasing the altitude of the internal conicalsurface configuration, less axial motion of the lock nut 25 will berequired to bring the lock nut into firm lock engagement with thelocking studs. Conversely, a greater conical altitude will requirerelatively greater motion of the nut to engage or disengage the lockingstuds.

To secure the lock nut in a given location, whether locked or unlocked,along the long locking stud, a jam nut 30 can also be carried upon thethreaded extension In accordance with another aspect of the invention,the internal prosthesis-grasping surface of the jaws 12 and 13 can beeasily and quickly altered to accommodate various prosthesis shapes. Tothis end, each holder jaw 12 and 13 is provided with a removable liner32 and 33, which can be replaced with a liner of alternate internalconfiguration. In the illustrated embodiment, the liners 32 and 33 arecarried on the jaws l2 and 13 by respective mounting collar portions 34and 35 which take the form of circular arcs of substantially 180. Eachliner member 32 and 33 is provided with an inner face 36 and 37 adaptedto engage the prosthesis l1, and an outer arcuate face 38 and 39 adaptedto securely engage the jaw mounting collars 34 and 35. To further orientthe liners to the jaws, the liners 32 and 33 are each additionallyprovided with upper and lower lip portions 43, 44, 45 and 46 formed toengage the edges of the respective mounting collar members 34 and 35,and guide slots 49 and 50 formed to engage collar member locating stops51 and 52. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the internal surfaces 36 and37 of the liners 32 and 33 can be formed in any of a variety of shapesto provide a good grasp of the associated prosthesis II and to assist inits accurate positioning relative to the prosthesis holder itself.

Thus designed, the prosthesis holder can be deftly used. Assistingsurgical personnel, who have been informed of the type prosthesis to beinvolved in the operation, install appropriate jaw liners 32 and 33 uponthe jaws l2 and 13 by sliding the liners 32 and 33 over the mountingcollars 34and 35 with an arcuate twisting motion. The jaws are thenopened, the prosthesis inserted, and the jaws closed from the positionshown in FIG. 5 to that shown in FIG. 3. The lock nut 25 is next moveddown the long locking stud 21 into engagement with the short lockingstud by a rotating motion of the thumb and forefinger of either hand.When the jaws have been firmly locked about the prosthesis, the lock nutcan be secured in place by rotating the jam nut into contact therewith.The held prosthesis can then be confidently and easily manipulated andmoved during subsequent surgical operations. When the prosthesis hasbeen emplaced in the patient, the holder is removed by loosening andmoving away the jaw nut 30, the lock nut 25, and by opening the jaws. Ifnecessary the jaws can be opened with a finger motion urging the shortlocking stud 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5. When thejaws are opened, the prosthesis holder 10 can be removed from theprosthesis 11.

The following is claimed as invention:

1. A prosthesis holder including a pair of opposing 20 jaws adapted forgrasping a prosthesis, a short and a long locking stud, one stud mountedon each jaw for angular motion therewith, a locking member carried onthe long stud for selectively engaging the short stud and urging theshort stud into angular superposition over the long stud, therebysimultaneously urging said holder jaws into their prosthesis graspingposition and hinge means for mounting the jaws to one another so as topermit relative angular motion therebetween, said hinge means beinglocated between said jaws and said locking member.

2. A prosthesis holder according to claim 1 wherein said holder jawseach include a cylindrical mounting collar member, the mounting memberin cross section describing substantially a circular arc ofsubstantially 180, and a liner member having an inner face adapted toengage the prosthesis and an outer face adapted to securely engage thejaw mounting collar.

3. A prosthesis holder according to claim 1 wherein each liner memberincludes tip portions formed to overhang and engage said mounting collarmember and at least one guide slot formed to engage a locating stop lugformed on said mounting collar member.

4%. A locking mechanism for a prosthesis holder having a pair of hingedjaws for angular motion to and from a prosthetic grasping positionysaidlocking device including a short and a long locking stud, one studmounted on each jaw for angular motion therewith, and a locking membercarried on the long stud for selectively engaging the short stud andurging the short stud into angular superposition over the long stud,thereby simultaneously urging said holder jaws into their prostheticgrasping position.

5. A locking device according to claim 4 wherein said locking member isthreadedly attached to said long stud for axial motion therealong,motion of the locking member toward said jaws bringing the lockingmember into engagement with said short stud, and further lock membermotion toward the jaws urging the short stud into progressively moreexact angular superposition over the long stud.

6. A locking device according to claim 4 wherein said locking member isa locknut having a conical interior surface for engaging a terminalportion of at least the short locking stud.

7. A locking device according to claim 6 wherein said locking mechanismincludes a jam nut threadedly attached to said long locking stud forjamming said locking member in a given location on said long lockingstud.

1. A prosthesis holder including a pair of opposing jaws adapted for grasping a prosthesis, a short and a long locking stud, one stud mounted on each jaw for angular motion therewith, a locking member carried on the long stud for selectively engaging the short stud and urging the short stud into angular superposition over the long stud, thereby simultaneously urging said holder jaws into their prosthesis grasping position and hinge means for mounting the jaws to one another so as to permit relative angular motion therebetween, said hinge means being located between said jaws and said locking member.
 2. A prosthesis holder according to claim 1 wherein said holder jaws each include a cylindrical mounting collar member, the mounting member in cross section describing substantially a circular arc of substantially 180*, and a liner member having an inner face adapted to engage the prosthesis and an outer face adapted to securely engage the jaw mounting collar.
 3. A prosthesis holder according to claim 1 wherein each liner member includes tip portions formed to overhang and engage said mounting collar member and at least one guide slot formed to engage a locating stop lug formed on said mounting collar member.
 4. A locking mechanism for a prosthesis holder having a pair of hinged jaws for angular motion to and from a prosthetic grasping position; said locking device including a short and a long locking stud, one stud mounted on each jaw for angular motion therewith, and a locking member carried on the long stud for selectively engaging the short stud and urging the short stud into angular superposition over the long stud, thereby simultaneously urging said holder jaws into their prosthetic grasping position.
 5. A locking device according to claim 4 wherein said locking member is threadedly attached to said long stud for axial motion therealong, motion of the locking member toward said jaws bringing the locking member into engagement with said short stud, and further lock member motion toward the jaws urging the short stud into progressively more exact angular superposition over the long stud.
 6. A locking device according to claim 4 wherein said locking member is a locknut having a conical interior surface for engaging a terminal portion of at least the short locking stud.
 7. A locking device according to claim 6 wherein said locking mechanism includes a jam nut threadedly attached to said long locking stud for jamming said locking member in a given location on said long locking stud. 